Tracie's Thoughts: Time to say goodbye

It's funny, one would think that the older we get, that saying goodbye would become easier and easier, as we have done it so many times in our past. But, unfortunately, some goodbyes, no matter how old you are, are incredibly difficult, painful and can leave you heartbroken.

If you think about it, we start having to say goodbye to people from an early age, be it due to death or moving. You start school and make friends and then as the years go by friends move or you move and in some cases, friends die.

I remember friends coming and going at school and, yes, I eventually got used to having to say goodbye but not realizing that I most generally would never see them again. I remember when I was a sophomore in high school and a good friend of mine committed suicide by jumping off a bridge. I remember that same year not too long after, my softball coach died of a heart attack. Saying Goodbye can be painful.

When we graduate high school most of us didn't realize that the people that we had grown up with would probably not be in our lives any longer. I know some people who have continued to be friends with their old high school buddies, my husband is one, but as for me, I have no contact with anyone I went to school with.

Once we enter the work world we meet more and more people and create friendships, sometimes your friends move away to further their career, or leave work to start a family but either way, it's goodbye time again. Many try to foster those relationships and many succeed, but for the most part the friendships dissolve due to distance, work and the hectic day-to-day schedule of everyday life.

Making the decision to leave the Northern Wyoming News was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make. I considered leaving for a while and discussed it with family members, but just couldn't pull the trigger and start looking for another job. But I guess in the end, when the journey is over, a person has to accept it and move on.

When you work with people, at least for me, over four years and you have developed relationships with those people, and have a work atmosphere that almost feels like a family, it hurts to have to say goodbye.

Think about it, there are 168 hours in a week. As a working adult you spend at least 40 hours a week at work with your co-workers. I know that over the last four plus years a 40-hour work week was few and far between. So, if you work 40 hours per week that leaves 128 hours left for family. Add in 8-10 hours of sleep per night, if you are lucky, that leaves either 72 hours or 48 hours left for the family. Add in the fact that the rest of the family has a life, the kids have school and sadly, even in elementary school, the kids have tons of homework every evening and on the weekends, you pretty much actually spend more time with your co-workers than your family, so saying goodbye and knowing deep inside that you will probably not be interacting with them again or much is heartbreaking.

On a positive note, I will say that I loved writing the articles that told the good news that was occurring in the community. I loved talking with and writing about the seniors who were celebrating milestone birthdays or anniversaries. I loved working with the schools, hospitals, community clubs and the senior centers. I loved working with the churches about their events and being able to, in my own way, promote God through those articles.

To the community, I feel like I am letting you down and it breaks my heart. But as there is nothing left to say, I say thank you to the community for letting me be a part of your lives for the last four-plus years. To my boss Karla Pomeroy, thank you for being the best boss I have ever had and giving me a chance and to my co-workers, thank you for being the people you are and good luck to all!

Tracie Mitchell is a staff writer with the Northern Wyoming News. She is leaving for another job opportunity. Her last day is this Friday, Oct. 25.